Suicide Prevention Trainings

The Minnesota Community Partners Preventing Suicide Program works with communities to teach people (gatekeepers) how to identify youth at risk and connect them to appropriate care. The following suicide prevention trainings are available for community groups and are delivered by certified trainers. Questions on specific training details can be directed to the youth suicide prevention coordinators. Contact a youth suicide prevention coordinator in your area to bring a training to your community. (Scroll down for information and resources for schools to meet the suicide prevention training licensure requirements.) 

QPR-Question, Persuade, Refer

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is a 1-2 hour educational program designed to teach lay and professional "gatekeepers" the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include anyone who is positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide (e.g. parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, caseworkers, police officers). The training is appropriate for high school youth and adults.

safeTALK- Suicide Alertness for Everyone

safeTALK is a half day training program to educate participants on how to recognize persons at risk for suicide and become comfortable talking to them and connecting them to services. This training is appropriate for nonclinical staff, adults and caregivers. The training can also be provided to high school youth.

ASIST-Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

ASIST is a two-day, two-trainer, workshop designed for members of all caregiving groups, family, friends, and other community members. Participants learn how to use a suicide intervention model to identify persons with thoughts of suicide, develop a safety plan and follow up.

LivingWorks Start

LivingWorks Start trains participants to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide and how to connect them to help and support. LivingWorks Start was developed with input from experts in suicide prevention, education, psychology, public health, social work, faith communities and the military.

LivingWorks Faith

LivingWorks Faith is designed for Christian clergy and lay leaders. It is a valuable resource for ministry in many contexts, including parishes, hospitals, the military, schools and the wider community. Blending Scriptural wisdom and proven best practices, LivingWorks Faith is designed for those who want to learn to effectively comfort, intervene and minister around the issue of suicide in their congregations.

YMHFA- Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour course designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.

Connect Postvention Training

Connect Suicide Postvention Training is a half day training that focuses on engaging and building capacity for key service providers who will be involved responding to a suicide or other sudden death in a community. Postvention training is a proactive planning tool to promote healing and reduce risk in the event of a suicide or sudden death.

Mental Health Trainings for Schools

The following information and resources can be used by schools for the purposes of planning professional development to meet the suicide prevention training licensure requirement.

Minnesota State Statute Language

Minnesota Statute MN State Statute 122A.187 Expiration and Renewal Subd.6. Mental Illness requires Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers renewing a teaching license under sections 122A.181 to 122A.184 to include in the renewal requirements at least one hour of suicide prevention best practices training in each licensure renewal period based on nationally recognized evidence-based programs and practices, among the continuing education credits required to renew a license under this subdivision.

Professional Educator Licensing Standards Board (PELSB)

PELSB has information for training options on best practice evidence-based programs that can be utilized to meet the suicide prevention training requirement. PELSB Suicide Prevention Training Criteria and Review Process

National Alliance for Mental Illness-Minnesota (NAMI Minnesota)

Visit classes to see what NAMI MN offers for communities. Visit Request A NAMI Presentation - NAMI Minnesota to request a presentation or training.

Minnesota Education Service Cooperatives

Check out the Education Service Cooperative contact that represents your region for potential training opportunities.

Minnesota State Associations

Check out opportunities that may be available through different state non-profit associations.

• Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
• Minnesota Association for School Social Workers
• Minnesota School Psychologists Association

Get Involved

Contact us at Health.suicideprev.MDH@state.mn.us.